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APRIL 1, 2024
Tribal Council approves
community housing study
By Danielle Harrison
Smoke Signals editor
Tribal Council approved a hous-
ing study that will help determine
Grand Ronde and wider community
needs for the next several years at
its Wednesday, March 20 meeting.
“The purpose of this assessment
is to fulfi ll a housing capacity anal-
ysis, develop a housing production
strategy and prepare a housing
implementation plan,” Tribal En-
gineering & Planning Manager
Ryan Webb said during a Tues-
day, March 19, Legislative Action
Committee meeting. “This work
will identify existing and future
housing stock within the commu-
nity by identifying opportunities
for improvement and expansion of
a variety of housing options.”
The $73,500 study will be done
by Points Consulting of Moscow,
Idaho, and the goal is to not only
examine the current housing situa-
tion within Grand Ronde but also to
identify opportunities for improve-
ment and expansion of a variety of
housing options, according to Webb.
“The final report and presen-
tation of the project will serve a
foundation to develop community
specific housing, priorities that
inform strategy, policy decisions,
the allocation of resources and the
cost to complete the work,” Webb
said. “This really is a look at it
from across the realm, everything
from low-income to market rate
to homeownership to homestead.
We’re truly trying to take a holistic
vision…and look at every different
opportunity that we could provide
to the membership with this.”
The assessment is expected to be
complete by the end of August.
In other action, Tribal Council:
• Approved an amended letter of
agreement with the state of Or-
egon regarding the Willamette
Cove project area to update con-
tact information for all entities
involved;
• Authorized the sale of homes in
phase 1 of Tipsu-ili’i, the Tribe’s
homeownership community lo-
cated at McPherson and Grand
Ronde roads;
• Approved a $138,550 funding
agreement with Bonneville Pow-
er Administration for fi scal year
2024 for the Tribe’s participation
in the Northwest Power and
Conservation Council’s Fish and
Wildlife Program;
• Approved the fi rst reading of an
amendment to the Freedom of
Information Ordinance reducing
the time certain documents can
be declassifi ed from 15 years to
3 years;
• Approved an application to the
Oregon State Fire Marshall for a
wildfi re season staffi ng grant for
$35,000;
• Approved a Tribal credit card for
Construction Supervisor Bart Bry-
ant for up to $2,500 for emergency
incident management needs;
• Approved consolidating fi ve con-
struction loans to Spirit Mountain
Gaming Inc. into one permanent
loan of $27.8 million;
• Authorized the Tribe’s Fire Man-
agement and Protection Program
to finalize the Portland Metro
Prescribed Fire Agreement;
• Approved a $30,000 grant appli-
cation to Bonneville Power Asso-
ciation for the restoration of 41
acres of oak habitat at the Tribe’s
Rattlesnake Butte property in
Junction City;
• And approved one emergency
non-infant and four non-infant
enrollments, and two infant en-
rollments into the Tribe because
they meet the requirements out-
lined in the Tribal Constitution
and Enrollment Ordinance.
To watch the entire meeting, visit
the Tribal government’s website at
www.grandronde.org and click on
the Videos tab.
MARRIAGES IN TRIBAL COURT
Tribal Court is issuing marriage licenses
and able to perform marriage
ceremonies for a fi ling fee of $40.
Contact the Tribal Court at 503-879-2303.
5
Prayer walk
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Clockwise from left, Tribal Council members Matthew Haller and Jon
A. George, Tribal Council Secretary Michael Cherry and Tribal member
Miranda Ellis participate in a prayer walk from the Governance Center
to the Atudship rock mound at the Tribal Cemetery on Monday, March
25, to honor ancestors of the Rogue River Tribe of Indians arriving at the
Grand Ronde Reservation on that date in 1856. The journey, known as
the Rogue River Trail of Tears, started from the Table Rock Reservation
homelands in Southern Oregon, lasted 33 days and covered 263 miles
on foot.
Health & Wellness Center off ering vaccines
The new COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax, is available at the Health &
Wellness Center for adults 18 and older. It is recommended for those with
chronic health conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
kidney failure and heart failure, regardless if they have received older
vaccines. Spikevax is not a booster.
Another vaccine that is recommended is for RSV, which is available to
babies eight months and younger, for expectant mothers who are 32 to 36
weeks pregnant and in limited amounts for those 60 and older.
For more information, call the Health & Wellness Center at 503-879-
2002.
ELECTION BOARD
VACANCY
IMMEDIATE OPENING
• Must be a CTGR Tribal member.
• Must be able to work at least one
day per week in the election office,
mid-July through early September.
The Confederated
Tribes of Grand Ronde
• Apply by Friday, April 19.
OFFSITE GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING
11 A.M. Sunday, April 7, 2024
For questions contact
Shannon Ham-texeira.
Lane Community
College Longhouse
4000 E. 30th Ave.
Eugene, OR 97405
shannon.ham-texeira
@grandronde.org
Followed by community
input meeting.
503-879-2301
www.grandronde.org
Ad by Samuel Briggs III
Ad by Samuel Briggs III